“Fire burning” as Dash host Red Stars in Challenge Cup: What to watch for
(image via Houston Dash)
The Houston Dash are back at home tonight after their first league defeat of the season against the North Carolina Courage on Friday. In the first round of the UKG Challenge Cup, the Dash suffered a loss against KC Current and currently sit last in the group. This will be the first match for the Chicago Red Stars in the Challenge Cup. Chicago drew 1-1 with the Washington Spirit on Saturday in league play.
When: Wednesday, May 3 | 7:00 PM CT kickoff
Where: Shell Energy Stadium; Houston, Texas
TV/Stream: Paramount +
Extra motivation
Every player will still have the loss on Friday to North Carolina Courage on their mind. Due for severe thunderstorms, the team couldn’t come back and fight to get a result in the second half as the game was abandoned in the 52nd minute and given as a 1-0 win to North Carolina. Head Coach Sam Laity knows his players’ mentality “I just see it in their eyes,” Laity said in his weekly press conference. “I could look at every player in the eye and you could just tell there's a fire burning. They're not happy. They're frustrated. They're frustrated with having the game taken away from them and they're frustrated that we didn't perform very well for 45 minutes. They also saw that after those 45 minutes and out of the second half that we caused [North Carolina] a lot of problems. There are two levels of frustration there that will hopefully become one tomorrow for Chicago” For additional motivation, the team needs to get a result to get back in the competition. Houston currently has zero points after one match and a win tonight will go a long way in helping advance from the group.
Building a fortress
Since the beginning of the season, the home record at Shell Energy Stadium has been one draw and two losses across all competitions. It hasn’t been an ideal start, especially in this league where margins are very thin meaning that points at home are crucial. Laity is aware of this, but he is more concerned with the team’s performance than winning at home. “It doesn't mean anything, genuinely it doesn't,” Laity said. “What's important for me is that the team performs well because that will help us out in the coming weeks in the coming months. What's important is that we perform well, we play with a level of intensity, urgency, and commitment that we've seen in other games. The results take care of itself. It will only be a matter of time before the goals start going in.” He’s right, the three away games show the team has the ability to get results. It’s very early in the season, and the Dash will look to make the tweaks to get three points at home at turn Shell into a fortress that it can be.
A “new” opponent
Earlier in the season, the Dash beat the Chicago Red Stars 2-1 in a hard-fought game amidst extremely windy conditions. The Red Stars had their star, and proven Dash tormentor, Mallory Swanson for that contest. Since that game, Mallory suffered a knee injury playing with the USWNT and the Chicago Red Stars sit near the bottom of the NWSL table. With all of the being said, it doesn’t mean Chicago can’t pose a problem for the Dash. “Number one, tactically, it's going to be like a scene from Gladiator,” Laity said about expectations for tonight’s match. “There are a lot of young players that are hungry and wanting to run through brick walls for each other and for the club. Firstly, what we have to do is be prepared to match that [energy], because it won't be the system that causes problems, it will be our ability to win individual battles. It'll be our ability to have a structure and a shape that enables us to get closer on second balls and hurt them. First thing we have to do is turn up with our body armor on and go toe to toe and wear them down.” One thing in the Dash’s corner is that Houston have won the last three meetings with Chicago. But that was the past, and now it’s time to put the armor on and go to battle.
Availability Report
Houston Dash - Out: Emily Curran (season-ending injury – knee), Annika Creel (knee), Ella Dederick (season-ending injury – knee), Makamae Gomera Stevens (season-ending injury – knee), Shea Groom (knee), Devon Kerr (excused absence), Nichelle Prince (season-ending injury – Achilles); Questionable: Joelle Anderson (thigh), Ryan Gareis (hip), Kelcie Hedge (thigh), Ally Prisock (thigh), Cameron Tucker (lower leg)
Chicago Red Stars: Out: Ava Cook (ankle), Sami Feller (concussion), Penelope Hocking (illness), Cheyna Matthews (ankle), Addie McCain (ankle), Cari Roccaro (head), Kayla Sharples (knee), Mallory Swanson (knee)
Predicted Lineup
